TripAdvisor has combed through traveller reviews and come out with a list of top beach destinations around the world.
Part of the website’s “Traveller’s Choice Awards,” the list is based on reviews submitted by the 20 million members who use the TripAdvisor website.
The best beach award went to one on Providenciales Island in the Turks and Caicos group of the northern Caribbean Sea.
Providenciales, which has experienced a boom in high-end resorts with total visitors tripling since the mid-1990s, was praised for its pristine white-sand beaches, calm, clear water and a healthy barrier reef appealing to snorkelers and divers. Many reviewers called its Grace Bay Beach the world’s best.
It was followed by Boracay in the Philippines and Palm/Eagle Beach on the former Dutch colony of Aruba in the southern Caribbean.
In the US, Florida took six of the Top 10 beach destinations: Panama City Beach took home the bronze, while Miami Beach, Sanibel Island and Clearwater fell just behind. Captiva Island took the number eight spot and Siesta Key rounded out the list.
Hawaii claimed two of the top beach destinations with Honolulu and Poipu, a small town full of resorts and high-end shopping on the southern side of the island of Kaua’i.
Cape May, New Jersey, was named the runner up on TripAdvisor’s list. The US beach destination that received top honors was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
White-sand beaches and calm clear water make the Turks and Caicos island of Providenciales the top choice
“It’s that time of year when travelers are dreaming of getaways to warm beach destinations,” says Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, in a statement. According to a recent poll done by the company, 68% of US respondents are planning a beach vacation in 2011.
Possibly the most surprising result was that Australia missed out on placings in both the 25 top beaches and 25 top luxury hotels categories. Nevertheless, it did secure spots in the Top 10 awards in each category for the South Pacific region, although missed out on the number one spots.
Australian beaches filled eight of the Top 10 South Pacific list but missed out on first place behind Bora Bora in French Polynesia, which many claim to be the world’s most beautiful island. Byron Bay in northern NSW was runner-up, followed by Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Cypriot beach Avia Napa landed the number one spot on the Top Ten European Beach Destinations list, beating Skiathos in Greece and Protaras (also in Cyprus) in third place.
Ayia Napa’s vibrant music scene and nightlife, boat tours and diving spots, combined with its clear turquoise waters and soft sandy beaches, won the European category. Oludeniz in Turkey came in at fifth place, with St. Ives in Cornwall (sixth), and Mallorca, Sicily and Sardinia completing the Top Ten.
Within the UK, St. Ives in Cornwall won by a considerable margin, followed by Newquay in Cornwall and Bournemouth in Dorset.
Here’s the top 10 TripAdvisor best beach destinations in the world…and top-ranked hotels at that particular location.
1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos…The Tuscany
2. Boracay, Philippines…Dave’s Straw Hat Inn
3. Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba…Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort
4. Negril, Jamaica…Westender Inn
5. Tulum, Mexico…Posada Luna del Sur
6. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina…Marina Inn at Grand Dunes
7. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman…Caribbean Club
8. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic….Iberostar Grand Bavaro
9. Cape May, New Jersey…Albert Stevens Inn
10. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica….Red Palm Villas
A full list of all the regional sub-categories and winners can be found here.
Scott Snowden
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